This Money Crane Bookmark can be included with a book if you happen to be giving someone a book as a present. Why spend dollars bills to buy a bookmark when you can make a bookmark with the dollar bill itself?
This model is a union of new and old because the crane is a classic model seen throughout the history of paper folding; however, folding dollar bills is a relatively new trend.
Instructions for Money Crane Bookmark
Step 1:
Start with a crisp dollar bill with the black-side facing up.
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Step 2:
Fold up the bottom-left corner as shown. |
 Unfold. |
Step 3:
Repeat with the other side: fold up the bottom-right corner.
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 Unfold. You should see an X-shaped crease. Turn the dollar bill over.
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Step 4:
Valley fold the bottom section of the dollar bill at the middle of the X. |
 Unfold and then turn over. |
Step 5:
Collapse the dollar bill to form a waterbomb base. Do this by pinching the sides of the model as you lift up the bottom section.
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 In transition.
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Step 6:
Lift the left flap and make a Squash Fold. To do this, lift the left-flap upwards.
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 Then press down the tip of the flap. Try to squash the paper evenly so it is the same size on both sides.
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Step 7:
Fold in the top-left edge. This makes the section more narrow.
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Step 8:
Fold one layer from right towards the left.
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Step 9:
Repeat the Squash Fold on the right-flap: lift the flap up…
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 and squash down evenly.
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Step 10:
Make the flap more narrow by folding in the top-right edge.
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Step 11:
Fold one layer from the left back towards the right.
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Step 12:
Repeat the narrowing process by folding in the top edges.
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Step 13:
Make an inside reverse fold to create the head of the crane. See photos below.
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 Fold tip down to establish crease.
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  Unfold and then refold so the layers are inside. |
Step 14:
Mountain fold (fold behind) the bottom section of the model. The location of the fold should be half the height of the waterbomb base.
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Step 15:
Using the creases made in step 1, fold in the left and right sides of the dollar bill. At the same time, pull down the crane section of the model.
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 In transition.
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 Almost done.
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 Turn over.
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 Money Crane Bookmark is done!
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 This is how the $ crane bookmark would look like had you started with the green-side of the dollar bill facing up. |